The longest-running combat sports promotional company in Northern California presents live professional boxing and mixed martial arts at the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton, Sacramento next Friday night, May 13th, as Upper Cut Promotions presents “May Madness: Show Up or Shut Up.” Sacramento’s own Malikai “Machine Gun” Johnson returns to action in the six-round main event against 32-fight veteran Pablo Batres.
Johnson (8-0-1, 5 KOs) will be making his ninth professional appearance at the DoubleTree Hotel when he steps into the ring against Batres next Friday. In his last outing, Johnson flexed his power with a devastating knockout of durable veteran Jude Yniguez this past January. Nogales, Sonora, Mexico’s Batres has been fighting professionally since 2010 and shared the ring with former world champion Miguel Berchelt and rising contender Brandun Lee among others. The experienced Batres will hope to test Sacramento’s power-punching super featherweight prospect Johnson in a six-round bout.
Another DoubleTree Hotel favorite, Tony Hernandez (4-2, 3 KOs) of Live Oak, California will take on Alejando Fugon (3-1-1, 3 KOs) of Palmdale, California in what should be a thrilling six-round middleweight bout between two power-punchers. Hernandez is on a three-fight win streak dating back to 2019. Fugon is looking to bounce back from his lone defeat to a full-fledged cruiserweight prospect trained by Freddie Roach.
In a four-round pairing of unbeaten welterweights, Luis Chavez (2-0) of Salinas, California will take on Juan Meza Moreno (4-0, 3 KOs) of Los Angeles, California. Chavez has won two unanimous decisions since turning pro last July. Meza Moreno turned professional last April, fighting exclusively in Tijuana, Mexico.
In another battle of undefeated fighters, Kenny Lopez Jr. (4-0, 3 KOs) of Ceres, California will meet Andrew Garcia (4-0-1, 3 KOs) of Ontario, California in a four-round super middleweight bout. Lopez is eager to make his home state debut after a successful run in Tijuana last year. Garcia will also be making his California debut after scoring a second-round stoppage last time out in September in Tijuana.
In a highly anticipated encounter, Lizette Lopez of Salinas will take on Neveah Martinez of Victorville, California in a four-round featherweight bout. Both women will be making their professional debuts on Friday night. With their bout having been originally scheduled for January, both will be well-prepared for their first professional contest.
Former amateur standout Kevin Montano (2-0, 1 KO) of Concord, California will face 27-fight veteran Corben Page of Eugene, Oregon in a four-round super featherweight bout. Montano, who had been a finalist and a semi-finalist at the USA Boxing National Championships, turned pro with a knockout last August at the DoubleTree Hotel and returned for his second win two months later. Page scored a win in his last fight, a second-round stoppage.
Irving Xilohua (1-0, 1 KO) of Stockton, California will meet Olaf Estrella Soto (0-1) of North Mankato, Minnesota by way of Apaseo El Grande, Guanajuato, Mexico in a four-round super bantamweight bout. Xilohua turned professional with a second-round knockout in Stockton this past December.
Sacramento-based former amateur standout Cain Sandoval (4-0, 4 KOs) will make his hometown debut against veteran journeyman Jude Yniguez (5-9-4, 1 KO) of Oak Hills, California in a six-round lightweight bout. Sandoval has kept busy since turning professional just last August, reeling off four knockouts in his four bouts.
In mixed martial arts action, Raheem Gilliam of Long Beach, California will take on Salvador Martinez of Stockton in a well-matched three-round middleweight bout. Both fighters will be making their professional MMA debuts.
All night, fans will be informed of the rounds by the lovely ladies of Gold Club Centerfolds in Rancho Cordova.
Tickets for “May Madness: Show Up or Shut Up,” promoted by Upper Cut Promotions, are available online at uppercutpro.com/tickets.